Comments on: The Idealism of Jackets and Ties http://willwilkinson.net/flybottle/2008/01/29/the-idealism-of-jackets-and-ties/ The Sweet Release of Reason Tue, 22 May 2012 20:28:45 +0000 hourly 1 By: Sanjay http://willwilkinson.net/flybottle/2008/01/29/the-idealism-of-jackets-and-ties/#comment-11844 Sanjay Sun, 03 Feb 2008 23:41:51 +0000 http://www.willwilkinson.net/flybottle/2008/01/29/the-idealism-of-jackets-and-ties/#comment-11844 It's "Painter of Light (tm)". And, God help me, my wife likes him. It’s “Painter of Light ™”. And, God help me, my wife likes him.

]]> By: Sanjay http://willwilkinson.net/flybottle/2008/01/29/the-idealism-of-jackets-and-ties/#comment-11845 Sanjay Sun, 03 Feb 2008 23:41:00 +0000 http://www.willwilkinson.net/flybottle/2008/01/29/the-idealism-of-jackets-and-ties/#comment-11845 It's "Painter of Light (tm)". And, God help me, my wife likes him. It’s “Painter of Light ™”. And, God help me, my wife likes him.

]]> By: bjk http://willwilkinson.net/flybottle/2008/01/29/the-idealism-of-jackets-and-ties/#comment-11843 bjk Thu, 31 Jan 2008 03:59:37 +0000 http://www.willwilkinson.net/flybottle/2008/01/29/the-idealism-of-jackets-and-ties/#comment-11843 We need to match the sacrifice of the greatest generation. Then we will satisfy Brooks. Only a few hundred thousand corpses to go. We need to match the sacrifice of the greatest generation. Then we will satisfy Brooks. Only a few hundred thousand corpses to go.

]]> By: bjk http://willwilkinson.net/flybottle/2008/01/29/the-idealism-of-jackets-and-ties/#comment-11855 bjk Thu, 31 Jan 2008 03:59:00 +0000 http://www.willwilkinson.net/flybottle/2008/01/29/the-idealism-of-jackets-and-ties/#comment-11855 We need to match the sacrifice of the greatest generation. Then we will satisfy Brooks. Only a few hundred thousand corpses to go. We need to match the sacrifice of the greatest generation. Then we will satisfy Brooks. Only a few hundred thousand corpses to go.

]]> By: Arr-squared http://willwilkinson.net/flybottle/2008/01/29/the-idealism-of-jackets-and-ties/#comment-11842 Arr-squared Thu, 31 Jan 2008 01:00:14 +0000 http://www.willwilkinson.net/flybottle/2008/01/29/the-idealism-of-jackets-and-ties/#comment-11842 "Sept. 11th really did leave a residue — an unconsummated desire for sacrifice and service." If it's indeed an 'unconsummated desire,' does that mean that these idealistic young people are not actually sacrificing or doing service? “Sept. 11th really did leave a residue — an unconsummated desire for sacrifice and service.”

If it’s indeed an ‘unconsummated desire,’ does that mean that these idealistic young people are not actually sacrificing or doing service?

]]> By: Arr-squared http://willwilkinson.net/flybottle/2008/01/29/the-idealism-of-jackets-and-ties/#comment-11854 Arr-squared Thu, 31 Jan 2008 01:00:00 +0000 http://www.willwilkinson.net/flybottle/2008/01/29/the-idealism-of-jackets-and-ties/#comment-11854 "Sept. 11th really did leave a residue — an unconsummated desire for sacrifice and service." If it's indeed an 'unconsummated desire,' does that mean that these idealistic young people are not actually sacrificing or doing service? “Sept. 11th really did leave a residue — an unconsummated desire for sacrifice and service.”

If it’s indeed an ‘unconsummated desire,’ does that mean that these idealistic young people are not actually sacrificing or doing service?

]]> By: WylieD http://willwilkinson.net/flybottle/2008/01/29/the-idealism-of-jackets-and-ties/#comment-11841 WylieD Wed, 30 Jan 2008 19:08:53 +0000 http://www.willwilkinson.net/flybottle/2008/01/29/the-idealism-of-jackets-and-ties/#comment-11841 Re: "The Kennedy Mystique" David Brooks misspelled "Mistake". Re: “The Kennedy Mystique”

David Brooks misspelled “Mistake”.

]]> By: WylieD http://willwilkinson.net/flybottle/2008/01/29/the-idealism-of-jackets-and-ties/#comment-11858 WylieD Wed, 30 Jan 2008 19:08:00 +0000 http://www.willwilkinson.net/flybottle/2008/01/29/the-idealism-of-jackets-and-ties/#comment-11858 Re: "The Kennedy Mystique" David Brooks misspelled "Mistake". Re: “The Kennedy Mystique”

David Brooks misspelled “Mistake”.

]]> By: melschacher http://willwilkinson.net/flybottle/2008/01/29/the-idealism-of-jackets-and-ties/#comment-11840 melschacher Wed, 30 Jan 2008 17:17:33 +0000 http://www.willwilkinson.net/flybottle/2008/01/29/the-idealism-of-jackets-and-ties/#comment-11840 Trevor is right, at least in my anecdotal experience. Contrast the enthusiasm for Obama among today's college crowd with the resounding "meh" response to the Clinton vs Dole race among my peers in '96. I personally find it droll that these cute young kids think that politicians can actually affect their lives positively, but Will is correct that a decline in cynicism from Gen-X levels is like a decline in crazy from the Britney Spears level. Trevor is right, at least in my anecdotal experience. Contrast the enthusiasm for Obama among today’s college crowd with the resounding “meh” response to the Clinton vs Dole race among my peers in ’96. I personally find it droll that these cute young kids think that politicians can actually affect their lives positively, but Will is correct that a decline in cynicism from Gen-X levels is like a decline in crazy from the Britney Spears level.

]]> By: melschacher http://willwilkinson.net/flybottle/2008/01/29/the-idealism-of-jackets-and-ties/#comment-11853 melschacher Wed, 30 Jan 2008 17:17:00 +0000 http://www.willwilkinson.net/flybottle/2008/01/29/the-idealism-of-jackets-and-ties/#comment-11853 Trevor is right, at least in my anecdotal experience. Contrast the enthusiasm for Obama among today's college crowd with the resounding "meh" response to the Clinton vs Dole race among my peers in '96. I personally find it droll that these cute young kids think that politicians can actually affect their lives positively, but Will is correct that a decline in cynicism from Gen-X levels is like a decline in crazy from the Britney Spears level. Trevor is right, at least in my anecdotal experience. Contrast the enthusiasm for Obama among today’s college crowd with the resounding “meh” response to the Clinton vs Dole race among my peers in ’96. I personally find it droll that these cute young kids think that politicians can actually affect their lives positively, but Will is correct that a decline in cynicism from Gen-X levels is like a decline in crazy from the Britney Spears level.

]]> By: cliff http://willwilkinson.net/flybottle/2008/01/29/the-idealism-of-jackets-and-ties/#comment-11839 cliff Wed, 30 Jan 2008 17:00:53 +0000 http://www.willwilkinson.net/flybottle/2008/01/29/the-idealism-of-jackets-and-ties/#comment-11839 This line from Brooks: 'Sept. 11th really did leave a residue — an unconsummated desire for sacrifice and service.' ...applies equally well to the jihadis, does it not? This line from Brooks:

‘Sept. 11th really did leave a residue — an unconsummated desire for sacrifice and service.’

…applies equally well to the jihadis, does it not?

]]> By: cliff http://willwilkinson.net/flybottle/2008/01/29/the-idealism-of-jackets-and-ties/#comment-11852 cliff Wed, 30 Jan 2008 17:00:00 +0000 http://www.willwilkinson.net/flybottle/2008/01/29/the-idealism-of-jackets-and-ties/#comment-11852 This line from Brooks: 'Sept. 11th really did leave a residue — an unconsummated desire for sacrifice and service.' ...applies equally well to the jihadis, does it not? This line from Brooks:

‘Sept. 11th really did leave a residue — an unconsummated desire for sacrifice and service.’

…applies equally well to the jihadis, does it not?

]]> By: Will Wilkinson http://willwilkinson.net/flybottle/2008/01/29/the-idealism-of-jackets-and-ties/#comment-11838 Will Wilkinson Wed, 30 Jan 2008 16:38:12 +0000 http://www.willwilkinson.net/flybottle/2008/01/29/the-idealism-of-jackets-and-ties/#comment-11838 Trevor, Maybe. Data? If it's up from your generation, then that means it's up from mine, Gen X, not up from the Boomers. And I remember that <a href="http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&safe=off&rlz=1B2GGGL_enUS206US206&q=civic+engagement+generation+x&btnG=Search" rel="nofollow">2000 Census study</a> that showed Gen X was all into civic engagement, too. And Brooks isn't talking about the level of involvement, but the style. The contrast is between chaotic gatherings of dirty hippies activists and orderly lines of nearly-identical young men with close-cropped hair and jackets and ties politely expressing their collective commitment to something "bigger" than themselves, preferably the interests of the local nation state. Trevor, Maybe. Data? If it’s up from your generation, then that means it’s up from mine, Gen X, not up from the Boomers. And I remember that 2000 Census study that showed Gen X was all into civic engagement, too.

And Brooks isn’t talking about the level of involvement, but the style. The contrast is between chaotic gatherings of dirty hippies activists and orderly lines of nearly-identical young men with close-cropped hair and jackets and ties politely expressing their collective commitment to something “bigger” than themselves, preferably the interests of the local nation state.

]]> By: Will Wilkinson http://willwilkinson.net/flybottle/2008/01/29/the-idealism-of-jackets-and-ties/#comment-11857 Will Wilkinson Wed, 30 Jan 2008 16:38:00 +0000 http://www.willwilkinson.net/flybottle/2008/01/29/the-idealism-of-jackets-and-ties/#comment-11857 Trevor, Maybe. Data? If it's up from your generation, then that means it's up from mine, Gen X, not up from the Boomers. And I remember that <a href="http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&safe=off&rlz=1B2GGGL_enUS206US206&q=civic+engagement+generation+x&btnG=Search" rel="nofollow">2000 Census study</a> that showed Gen X was all into civic engagement, too. And Brooks isn't talking about the level of involvement, but the style. The contrast is between chaotic gatherings of dirty hippies activists and orderly lines of nearly-identical young men with close-cropped hair and jackets and ties politely expressing their collective commitment to something "bigger" than themselves, preferably the interests of the local nation state. Trevor, Maybe. Data? If it’s up from your generation, then that means it’s up from mine, Gen X, not up from the Boomers. And I remember that 2000 Census study that showed Gen X was all into civic engagement, too.

And Brooks isn’t talking about the level of involvement, but the style. The contrast is between chaotic gatherings of dirty hippies activists and orderly lines of nearly-identical young men with close-cropped hair and jackets and ties politely expressing their collective commitment to something “bigger” than themselves, preferably the interests of the local nation state.

]]> By: Trevor http://willwilkinson.net/flybottle/2008/01/29/the-idealism-of-jackets-and-ties/#comment-11837 Trevor Wed, 30 Jan 2008 16:19:30 +0000 http://www.willwilkinson.net/flybottle/2008/01/29/the-idealism-of-jackets-and-ties/#comment-11837 I wouldn't want to get into defending Brooks as an author more generally, and I can see why the quoted passages rubbed you the wrong way, but isn't Brooks broadly right on the objective if not the normative question? My understanding is that indicators of civic involvement are up across the board for my generation. I don't think that it constitutes a denial of individual identity, but it's certainly <i>happening</i>, right? I wouldn’t want to get into defending Brooks as an author more generally, and I can see why the quoted passages rubbed you the wrong way, but isn’t Brooks broadly right on the objective if not the normative question? My understanding is that indicators of civic involvement are up across the board for my generation. I don’t think that it constitutes a denial of individual identity, but it’s certainly happening, right?

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